Ferocious defending and clinical finishing put Whitecraigs back on track at the weekend after a disappointing defeat last time out. The West Lodge men were desperate to banish the memories of losing to Newton Stewart when they travelled to take on Kilmarnock on Saturday.

A blistering start from Whitecraigs had them well ahead early on but the stubborn and well-drilled home team made sure that it was a tough afternoon. Despite going 3-0 down after just a couple of minutes Craigs hit straight back when Stuart Henderson chipped the ball over the top and Garry Johnston raced onto it before easily outpacing the home defence to touch down for a try. The scoreboard kept ticking when Captain Ryan Moffat added a penalty and then a moment of individual brilliance from emerging stand-off Ally Stevenson unlocked the Kilmarnock defence again.

Whitecraigs had a scrum deep inside opposition territory and when 17-year-old Stevenson got the ball he weaved his way through countless despairing defenders to stretch the lead to 3-15.For the rest of the half Craigs had to weather an onslaught from Killie but after holding firm Moffat managed to add another penalty before the break. As the second period got under way none of the crowd could have been prepared for what was to come.

The game descended into farce when the card-happy referee dished out seven yellow cards - three for Whitecraigs and four for Kilmarnock. First to get his marching orders was Moffat before three Kilmarnock players were sent from the field in quick succession to leave them with just 12 men on the pitch. With a clear numerical advantage Whitecraigs added another try after a clever chip by Henderson released Gavin Mahindru who pounced on the ball to score.

With a 3-25 lead Graeme Fisher was sent to the sin-bin for handling in the ruck before Ben Blamire and another Kilmarnock player were also sent from the field. In the closing stages Craigs almost grabbed the bonus point try with a clean break by Johnston and Nicky Blamire. But Kilmarnock held firm before closing the day's scoring with a try of their own to leave the final score at 10-25.

Delighted head coach Jim Henderson said: "After Newton Stewart I was delighted to go down to Kilmarnock and come away with such a convincing win. As we turn into the second part of the season we probably needed that defeat, in that it was a wake up call for the team. We are now focused on the job in hand which is securing wins each Saturday and respecting all our opponents in the league."

Team: Laidlaw, Christine, Nisbet, Stuart, F. Hunter, N. Blamire, K. Hunter, Pollock, Henderson, Stevenson, Mahindru, Moffat, Percival, Johnston, Fisher. Subs - Campbell, Corbett, B. Blamire.